The FBI announced on Tuesday a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the capture of Alberto Pérez Elías, a Cuban citizen wanted for his alleged involvement in a million-dollar robbery of a jewelry store in Cape Coral, Florida, which took place on January 6, 2026.
The FBI office in Tampa reported that Pérez Elías and three other men broke into an empty commercial space adjacent to Tio Jewelers, broke through the partition wall, and gained access to the interior of the establishment.
Once inside, they subdued the manager at gunpoint, bound him with zip ties, and forced open a safe from which they stole thousands of pieces of jewelry worth over a million dollars. After the robbery, the suspects fled to Miami.
The other three accused are: Ivel Sánchez Rivera, 52 years old, identified as the driver of the getaway vehicle; Osmani Barrios Carrera, 37 years old; and Yunior López Delgado, 42 years old. All were arrested following the investigation. Pérez Elías is the only one still at large, more than eight months after the theft.
The FBI included Pérez Elías on its wanted list in July 2026, in the category of additional violent crimes. The announcement of the $50,000 reward signifies an escalation in efforts to capture him, more than two months after the federal arrest warrant was issued.
The federal court for the Middle District of Florida, based in Fort Myers, issued that order on June 24, 2026. The charges include conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, interference with commerce by robbery, and use of a firearm during a violent crime.
If found guilty, Pérez Elías would face up to 20 years of federal prison plus an additional seven consecutive years for the weapon-related charge.
Born in Cuba, the suspect has known connections in Miami and Hialeah. The FBI describes him as bald, with brown eyes, standing 1.68 meters tall and weighing about 68 kilograms. He has used two different birth dates: July 15, 1968, and July 12, 1972. The agency considers him armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information about their whereabouts can report it online at tips.fbi.gov or by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).
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